National Republican., 1887-11-16
JAIL OF TIE DISTRICT.
Stat, ment of Its Condition Made by
Warden Crocker.

Warden John s. Crocker, Of the District
jail, has tranmitted his annual report to the
Attorney General. He states that the dis
cipllne of the jail has been kept up to the
standard previously attained by the prac-
tlce OF humane treatment toward all the
inmates, and without the in1lction of se
we're penalties. II has now been twelve
years since the jail building was completed
and occupied. Certain defects in construc-
tion have been developed. While the main
portions OF the building occupied by the
male prisoners are provided with a COM
plete system Of ventilation, the apartments
occupied by the females seem to have been
overlooked In that regard, and have no
means provided whereby the occupants
can be supplied with pure atmosphere or
the rooms kept in a proper sanitary condl-
tlon. This deficiency is such an objection
able feature that II attracted the attention
of the grand Jury OF the District in their re-
cent visit to the Jail, and in their report they
|. condemned the apartments occupied by fe-
males as entirely wanting in proper means
OF ventilation. After consulting with Mr..
Edward Clark, achtect Of the capitol, Gen.
Crocker says plan for ventilating those
apartments, which has been approved by
the Department OF Justice, has been adopted
and the work Of making the necessary al
IerHllODs is now gong on.
"There Is an existing want In this Dis
trlct," the report continues, "of reforma-
tory or institution where females Of every
grade could be incarcerated under condi-
tlons suited to their sex, free from the
presence Of male prisoners, properly classl-
fled, and subjected to such management
and reformatory measures as would apply
to their condition; where their minds could
be forcibly impressed with correct thoughts
and inclined along the ways. to complete
restoration OF friends, saved from a career
OF vice and crime, and entered upon the
paths Of virtue and usefuln IS. Such a
desirable result cannct so we'll be accom-
plished in common jail, where prisoners
OF both sexes and criminals Of every grade
are incarcerated.
"It often happens that young girls and
women who for the first time are charged
with some offense are committed to Jail,
where they enter with their minds filled
with horror at the idea OF being imprisoned.
Now II such persons could he taken In the
first instance to n proper female reforma!
tory they could easily be saved from falling
lower In the criminal scale, and finally be
restored to their former condition In their
families. The jail at present docs not
afford room for the proper accommodation
Of more than thirty two femsles and yet
their number here is often greatly in excess
VI tBdJ, anu 10 STuuudily lncTbisluB lTOul
year to year, rendering overcrowding OF
their apartments necessary. This excess
Of numbers is of itself q sufficient reason
for providing for them more ample accom-
modations."
During the past year ~ convicts were
transported to Albany penitentiary at a cost
10 the government of 81, l,066 so, besides
| S207 10 paid by the authorities OF the peni
tentiary. The salary Of the warden Isl 500
is deemed inadequate compensation for the
services. The total number of prisoners In
jail during the year was 1913. The daily
average was 191, the highest number, 240
and the lowest, 1853. There were In jail n,
the beginning of the year ia, and 1,78t
were committed during the year. OF those
committed 427 were white males, 1880 col
| ored males, 27 white females, and 1876 col
ored females; 36G were native white males
1,l29 native colored males; 6l were foreign
white males, ] a foreign colored male; q
native white females, 3 foreign white
females, and 1856 were native coloret
females. No prisoner escaped. or th,
commitments 5SS were for petit larceny
isS for assault and battery, lis for assault
s5 assault with intent to kill, 10 murder
| as HOUSEKEEPING, GA grand larceny, Il
| forgery, 81 embezzlement, 16 larceny from
the person, receiving stolen goods,
bigamy, 12 incorrigibility, and the other
for various offenses. Thirty-seven boy
| were sentenced to the reform school. Tw,
| hundred and five prisoners remained In jai
at the close OF the year, 81 being whit
males. 1872 colored males, 9 white females
| and 20 colored females.